“Day and night, they provide vital services across the province and help ensure Albertans get the best quality health care possible.

“We’re pleased to see language improvements in this agreement that include some of the best job security protections we’ve ever negotiated in health care, and improvements to dealing with issues like workload, wage equity, and leaves, including domestic violence.

“And while a two-year wage freeze is included in this agreement, we re-enter wage negotiations with the employer in January for the final year of the contract,” said Slade. “If an agreement on wages can’t be reached at the bargaining table, it will be referred to third-party independent arbitration, which will be binding.”

Negotiations between AUPE and Alberta Health Services began more than a year and a half ago. The tentative agreement was reached in September.

AUPE represents more than 95,000 members province-wide. More than half work in health care.